Australia says the world needs to know the origins of COVID-19

SYDNEY (Reuters) – The nations of the world must do everything possible to understand the origins of COVID-19, Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison said on Saturday, comments that could worsen tensions with China.

Addressing the United Nations General Assembly, Morrison said an investigation into the roots of the virus would minimize the threat of another global pandemic.

“This virus has caused a calamity in our world and its peoples. We must do everything we can to understand what happened for the sole purpose of preventing it from happening again,” Morrison said via teleconference video link.

“There is a clear mandate to identify the zoonotic source of the COVID-19 virus and how it was transmitted to humans.”

Morrison’s comments came after similar comments from the prime minister earlier in the year that soured ties between Australia and China.

At the time, he led global demands for an investigation into the origins of COVID-19. China strongly rejected that move, and Beijing’s ambassador in Canberra warned that the inquiry calls could damage trade ties.

Since then, China has imposed trade sanctions on Australia. It suspended some beef imports on a technicality and effectively blocked a 439 million Australian dollar ($ 308.5 million) barley trade by imposing tariffs of 80.5% on Australian imports. China has also launched an anti-dumping investigation on imports of wine from Australia.

Meanwhile, Australia called on all nations to share a COVID-19 vaccine in the event one is developed.

Australia earlier this year signed a vaccine agreement with AstraZeneca , with the first batches scheduled to be delivered in January 2021 if tests are successful.

Australia has said it will share supplies with smaller Pacific island nations.

(Reporting by Colin Packham; Editing by Cynthia Osterman)